This Element provides an accessible introduction to ecosemiotics -the study of sign processes responsible for ecological phenomena - and demonstrates its pertinence for the study of today's unstable culture-nature relations. It considers the diverse nature of influences, cultural connections and models associated with ecosemiotics.
This book critically analyzes the tripartite mimicry model, which includes the mimic, model, and receiver species, while developing semiotic tools for comparative analysis. It proposes that mimicry has a dual structure, where sign relations in communication interact with ecological relations among species. Advocating for multi-constructivism and toolbox-like conceptual methods, the author emphasizes the importance of considering both participants’ Umwelten and the cultural meanings tied to specific mimicry instances. From a biosemiotic perspective, mimicry is viewed as a sign relation involving deceptively similar messages that are perceived, interpreted, and acted upon. By focusing on living subjects and their communication, the book offers new insights into the diversity of mimicry and integrates various mimicry studies within a unified framework. On a meta-level, the semiotic approach encourages critical reflection on the application of mimicry concepts in contemporary biology. The author explores modern interpretations of mimicry in semiotics, analyzes it as a form of communicative interaction, and connects it to iconic signs, emphasizing abstract resemblances. Theoretical discussions are complemented by practical examples from nature, such as brood parasitism and myrmecomorphy. Ultimately, the book argues for a broader semiotic-ecological context for understanding mimicry, highlighting the existence of ecological codes an
This volume is the first reader dedicated to the discipline of zoosemiotics- the study of signification, communication and representation within and across animal species.